Excise Commissioner Mistreating Staff: BRS

The BRS today strongly criticised Excise Commissioner C Hari Kiran for allegedly mistreating staff and fostering an unwelcoming work atmosphere.

The party also condemned the Congress government for "assigning officers from Andhra Pradesh to key roles", alleging that Telangana employees were being marginalised and mistreated.

Former Excise Minister V Srinivas Goud visited Excise Deputy Commissioner V Somi Reddy of the Nizamabad division at a private hospital in Hyderabad, where the officer is currently undergoing treatment.

Speaking to the media after the visit, Goud called for the immediate dismissal of Hari Kiran. He accused the Commissioner of harassing employees and claimed that it had led to a decline in morale within the department.

He expressed concern that the Commissioner's actions were adversely affecting the employees' health, citing alleged instances of severe stress and related health issues due to alleged verbal mistreatment.

The former minister also mentioned that another officer, S A M Rizvi, had opted for voluntary retirement, reportedly due to the prevailing work environment. He also raised concerns about alleged corruption within the department, including the involvement of a retired officer functioning as Officer on Special Duty to the Excise Minister.

He also said that Kiran, who hailed from Andhra Pradesh, was appointed to a prominent position shortly after arriving in Telangana. The BRS leader added that key posts were consistently being filled by officers from Andhra Pradesh, while Telangana officials were being subjected to humiliation.

Goud also questioned how liquor sourced from Andhra Pradesh ended up at a wine shop in Kukatpally. He argued that the combination of alleged corruption and the influence of Andhra Pradesh officials was creating serious challenges for employees in the State.